CEN’s Chief Partnerships Officer, Brittany Williams, had the honor of serving as a keynote speaker at the 32nd Annual Texas Midwest Community Network (TMCN) Conference: The Rural Advantage in Abilene, Texas.
At the TMCN Annual Conference, Collegiate Edu-Nation Chief Partnerships Officer Brittany Williams challenged rural leaders to recognize the strengths already present in their communities—and to use those strengths to prepare for what comes next.
Opening to Frank Foster’s “Dirt Road,” Williams connected rural identity, work ethic, and community pride to the conference theme: the Rural Advantage.
“The rural advantage isn’t that change will be easy,” Williams shared. “It’s that we know how to do hard things.”
The keynote acknowledged that rural communities are experiencing very different realities. Some are managing rapid growth and major industry investment. Others are working to maintain essential services. Many are navigating difficult public conversations about data centers, energy projects, housing, infrastructure, and workforce needs.
Across each of those situations, Williams emphasized the importance of developing local people alongside local economies.
“The best economic development strategy is one that develops people while it develops a place,” she said.
Williams highlighted examples of communities, schools, colleges, hospitals, employers, and workforce partners building opportunities together through Edu-REACH, Hamlin Digital Workforce Academy, the Big Country Rural Healthcare Hub, apprenticeships, and shared regional resources.
She also challenged education and economic development leaders to plan together from the beginning. Employers and EDC professionals understand the industries, investments, and skills coming into a region. Education partners help turn that demand into pathways learners can access.
As Williams reminded the audience:
“An activity ends when the event is over. An opportunity has a next step.”
CEN is forming regional advisories designed as working tables where education, workforce, economic development, employers, healthcare, and community leaders can identify shared needs, coordinate resources, and move workforce pathways forward.
The keynote closed with three questions for rural leaders:
• What opportunity is standing at the end of our road that we haven’t learned to see yet?
• Who is missing from our table?
• What is the next responsible step we can take together?
That is the rural advantage: seeing possibilities others may overlook, bringing the right people together, and turning relationships into action.
Is your community ready to explore its next opportunity?
Interested in learning more about how CEN can support your school, organization, or community? Or looking to amplify your community’s voice through our Rural Voice Alliance, a regional advisory initiative bringing rural leaders together to shape priorities and advocate for rural communities?
We’d love to connect, explore opportunities for collaboration, and help you find your place in strengthening rural communities.
Reach out to us at info@edu-nation.org to start the conversation!
Emily Birdwell
Director of Marketing & Communications
